AUSTRALIA’S newest scrum doctor Mario Ledesma is determined to change the world’s perception of the Wallabies as easybeats in that area, as he prepares for a hot reception back in the land of his birth.

Ledesma, who played 84 Tests for Argentina as a hooker, has recently started working with the Wallabies on set pieces after performing the same function for the NSW Waratahs through the Super Rugby season.

The Wallabies oft maligned scrum came in for another grilling after some shaky moments in the season-opening Test against South Africa last weekend.

They can expect another thorough examination next weekend in Mendoza against Argentina, a nation renowned for their scrummaging prowess.

Mario Ledesma at NSW Waratahs training.Source: News Corp Australia

The fixture marks the return home of former Pumas hooker Ledesma, who represented Argentina at four World Cups over a 15-year international career, which finished in 2011.

He denied the Wallabies scrum was their achilles heel, but acknowledged that may be the perception outside Australia.

“What we are trying to do here, and I think we did it really well during the Super Rugby, is change that perception everyone has of the Australian team,” Ledesma said.

“If you look at most of the Australian teams throughout the (Super Rugby) competition, they were dominating in the scrums, especially the Reds.

“I thought we had a really good run with the Waratahs too and I thought the Brumbies did really good.

“It’s just showing everybody that we’re there to scrum, and we want to contest.

“We want to dominate over there and we want the least amount of penalties possible and get the ref out of the picture.”

Mario Ledesma packs down for Argentina at the 2003 World Cup.Source: News Corp Australia

Argentina’s two tries against New Zealand last weekend came from driving mauls following lineouts and Ledesma expected the Pumas to use that tactic and the scrum to attack Australia.

“That’s the DNA of the Argentinian team and I think they won’t be going away from that and they shouldn’t,” Ledesma said.

“But we will prepare for that and we’re really excited about those kind of battles.”

Ledesma conceded the Wallabies scrum struggled early against the Springboks, but felt it improved as the match progressed and especially after the second half substitutions.

“We didn’t start really well, mainly because we weren’t respecting what we planned during the week,” Ledesma said.

“But when we started getting it right in the second half especially the last couple of scrums, we put them under pressure and had good outcomes.”

Ledesma believes Australia will have an edge in front-row depth over Argentina.

“I thought they (the Argentinian scrum) were quite good (against New Zealand), especially in the first half,” Ledesma said.

Michael Hooper of the Wallabies and team mates pack down a scrum.Source: Getty Images

“But then when the subs came in there was a big difference. I think they don’t have the same squad (front-row depth) as we do, like we did against the South Africans.”

Asked about the kind of reception he can expect back home Ledesma said “they will be alright at training, but maybe it will get a little bit warmer during the game, so I will try to hide!”

Meanwhile, the chance to start champion openside flankers David Pocock and Michael Hooper together is just one potential experiment Wallabies coach Michael Cheika could consider.

Cheika will have just three Tests following the game in Mendoza to tweak his team before their first World Cup game against Fiji in Cardiff in late September.

Home and away Bledisloe Cup clashes with All Blacks are on the slate for August followed by a match against the United States in Chicago in early September.

Cheika can hardly afford to take Argentina lightly, especially as the Pumas beat the Wallabies in Mendoza last year.

But he’d be probably more inclined to experiment against the Pumas than against the world champion All Blacks when Australia could risk morale-sapping thrashings if not at peak.

The Hooper-Pocock back row tandem screams out as a worthwhile change — it’s hardly a risk — after both impressed against South Africa last weekend, and Pocock could be a surprise starter at No 8, where he excelled off the bench after replacing Scott Higginbotham.

Last Saturday’s Test was the fifth time Pocock, 27, and Hooper, 23, have played together at Test level, but they have yet to start an international simultaneously.

Neither of the other options — Higginbotham and last year’s incumbent Ben McCalman — have really stamped ownership on the No 8 role by dominating to date.

“It was unfamiliar at (No) 8, but I made the most of it and really enjoyed working alongside Hoops,” Pocock said.

After the Brisbane Test Cheika himself said there was “no risk” playing the two men together, despite fears in some quarters it could compromise Australia’s lineout ability.

Cheika will be forced into a minimum three changes for the Argentina game following injuries last weekend to halfback Will Genia, winger Rob Horne and centre Matt Giteau.

Nick Phipps and Matt Toomua are standout candidates to replace Genia and Giteau after both excelled as substitutes last weekend.

France-based Drew Mitchell, who played his first Test since December 2012 off the bench, is a chance to fill the vacancy created by Horne’s injury, along with Joe Tomane, Nick Cummins and possibly even Kurtley Beale.

At the other end of the team, Cheika may look to tinker with his starting props combination after Greg Holmes and Scott Sio turned the tide in the scrum when they came off the bench against the Springboks.

“I was really happy with Scotty and Holmesy coming in, I think they really made the difference,” Ledesma said.

In the second row, former captain James Horwill might gain promotion to start alongside his Reds teammate Rob Simmons, depending on whether Cheika opts to stick with emerging giant Will Skelton who was underwhelming last weekend.